The next day,a CA crisis committee led by head of security and integrity Sean Carroll assembled by phone conference and in person and discussed the upcoming three-match men’s one-day international series between Australia and New Zealand due to start at the SCG that Friday night. Rattled by the knowledge that someone who tested positive had been at a near packed MCG,the committee believed it could not risk exposing crowd members to the virus again.

While Prime Minister Scott Morrison was still encouraging people to go to the football that weekend,andwith fast bowler Kane Richardson isolated at the team’s hotel in Double Bay after reporting a sore throat,the committee recommended to the executive that the Chappell-Hadlee series be played behind closed doors.

The series would be called off altogether only hours after Aaron Finch and David Warner steered to a 71-run win,with New Zealand announcing impending travel restrictions and Kane Williamson’s Black Caps heading home. But cricket’s decision to lock out crowds put them ahead of the curve that weekend and with more time on their side than the decimated football codes that is where they are trying to stay.

With 90 per cent of its revenue for the financial year already delivered,cricket in Australia has not yet been materially affected by the virus. Due to the international nature of the game’s most profitable products,however,it is unlikely to be spared and CA is planning as such.

The Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age can reveal that CA is seeking a $200 million line of credit from banks,just as the AFL has secured a $600m lifeline from the NAB and ANZ,as an insurance measure after drawing up three broad scenarios for the next season:a 25 per cent loss of revenue,a 50 per cent loss and a 100 per cent loss.

The latter would involve a wipeout of not only the men’s T20 World Cup in October and November,for which CA as host will be paid a handsome fee by the International Cricket Council,but also the four-Test home series against India starting in December,which is worth $300m to Australian cricket’s bottom line,and the 2020-21 Big Bash League.

The likelihood is domestic cricket like the BBL should be able to go ahead but with great uncertainty around global travel in the medium-term future,as well as how the virus will impact India as a nation,the most lucrative of Australia’s home international summers is far from secure.

As the NRL and AFL are discovering,a lack of action on the field means no money from broadcasters,which along with cash from commercial partners represents 70 per cent of cricket’s revenue. The scenario planning at CA,however,stretches beyond exactly what cricket might and might not be able to be played. They are also war-gaming for the unwanted situation that a broadcast partner like Seven West Media or Foxtel,or a sponsor like Qantas,runs into such trouble that they can’t pay,or need to renegotiate their deals.

The hope for those in cricket is they don’t ultimately need all or any of the money they are trying to get out of the banks. As of last June,according to the 2019 annual report,CA had $26m in cash on its books as well as $90m parked in investments. But after a lower-earning summer in 2019/20 with Pakistan and New Zealand touring,the health of their four-year revenue cycle depends heavily on whether Virat Kohli’s men,and the broadcast riches from the subcontinent that come with them,can make it here in November.

There has already been pain among the states,who are largely funded by CA,with South Australia making 23 full-time staff redundant,those who remain there suffering a 20 per cent reduction in working hours and executives at Adelaide Oval taking a 20 per cent pay cut. The 15-member CA executive including CEO Kevin Roberts,who has been fronting the whole workforce by live stream three times a week,also agreed two weeks ago to cop a 20 per cent hit to their wages,with that drop in pay kicking in on Wednesday.

Staff at CA have been “gifted” a week’s leave this week by management before being told to remain off in the lead-up to Easter next week.

Meanwhile,the players,who are likely to have flexibility built into their new contracts to cover for the uncertainty ahead,are entering their own annual leave period and the unknown.

That night of all nights at the MCG certainly seems a long time ago.